Saved from jet disaster
Two plucked to safety as passenger plane hits houses killing at least 100
TWO passengers were dramatically pulled alive from the wreckage of an airliner that crashed into homes in Pakistan yesterday, killing at least 100.
The pilot reported engine failure moments before the Airbus A320 carrying 98 passengers and crew hit the ground in a fireball by a Karachi airport.
More than six houses were destroyed in the horror with a number of residents feared dead and many others injured.
One of the plane survivors was Bank of Punjab president Zafar Masood, who said as he was stretchered away: ‘Thank you so much. God has been merciful.’
The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) plane was flying from Lahore to Karachi, a 90minute journey, when the pilot reported problems while trying to land at around 9.30am.
A transmission of his final exchange with air-traffic control indicated he was circling to make another landing attempt.
The pilot said: ‘We are proceeding direct, sir. We have lost engine.’ A controller suggested the flight was off-course, only to be told both engines had failed. Twelve seconds later the pilot cried: ‘Sir – mayday, mayday, Pakistan 8303.’ The transmission then ended.
Video on social media appeared to show the aircraft flying low with flames shooting from an engine. Witnesses said it tried to land two or three times before crashing near Jinnah International Airport. Plumes of smoke could be seen from residential area Model Colony, which is poor and densely populated.
Rescuers were seen pulling bodies from the jet, some still wearing seatbelts.
Seemin Jamali, from Jinnah Post Graduate Medical College, said eight dead and 15 injured had been brought to the facility. Residents said their walls shook before a big explosion. A 14year-old witness called Hassan added: ‘I saw the plane tilting. The engines’ sounds were quite weird. It was so low the walls of my house were trembling.’
Last night more than 40 bodies had been recovered, with more than 100 feared dead.
Prime minister Imran Khan tweeted: ‘Shocked & saddened. Immediate inquiry will be instituted.’ A PIA spokesman said: ‘The pilot was told from the final approach that both runways were ready, but decided to do a go-round. It’s a very tragic incident.’